Dentofacial disharmony: motivations for seeking treatment.
Patients whose skeletal disharmony was severe enough to warrant a surgical treatment option completed a 24-item Motives for Treatment questionnaire. Each item was rated from (1) not at all a reason to (4) very much a reason. Items were grouped to form six dimensions. An average score of 3.0 or greater on a given dimension was considered a strong motivation. Of the 135 patients who completed the questionnaire, 16% of the patients had primarily a self-image motivation, 4% primarily an oral function motivation, and 6% strong dual self-image/oral function motivations. Males and females differed significantly on the social well-being and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dimensions. A strong social motivation occurred 4.5 times more frequently among males than among females, while a higher proportion of females than males reported TMJ concerns. Patients older than 25 scored higher on oral function, future health, and TMJ dimensions. Patients who elected surgery had higher scores on oral function, nasal function, and TMJ dimensions. Approximately 1.5 times as many patients who elected surgery scored on average of 3.0 or higher on the self-image and oral function dimensions.
Phillips
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Department of Orthodontics, University of North Carolina, School of Dentistry, Chapel Hill 27514, USA.
Broder
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HL
Bennett
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ME
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D003657:Decision Making; D005145:Face / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008310:Malocclusion / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D015508:Nasal Obstruction / Q000523:psychology; D019647:Oral Surgical Procedures / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology*; D012649:Self Concept; D012737:Sex Factors; D012928:Social Desirability; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery; D016388:Tooth Loss / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology